Sizing machine for battery grid plates



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Nov. 9, 1937.

A. D. LUND 2,098,808

SIZING MACHINE FOR BATTERY GRID PLATES Filed Dec. 23, 1935 5 sheeis-shet 5 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIZING MACHINE FOR BATTERY GRID PLATES Arthur D. Lund, Minneapolis, Minn. Application December as, 1935, serial No. 55,855 19 claims. (ci. 9o'11) This invention relates to machines for operatevidenced by the fact that a grid is no stronger ing on battery grid plates, during the course of than its thinnest portion, and a cell is no stronger manufacture thereof, to reduce them to uniform than its weakest grid. Furthermore, any paste thickness, after they have been cast but before applied beyond the predetermined or normal they are lled with the active material or sothickness is superfluous and represents a waste called grid paste and placed in the battery of material. For these reasons I havedesigned cell; and the primary obj ect is to provide a novel, the present machine which will trim each and all emcient and practical machine for that purpose. 0f the grid IJlSttGS Passing ihlOllgh it t0 a 1mi- Under existing methods of battery manufacture form size thickness so that when passed into a the grids are in most instances cast, pasted, and pasting machine the latter Will accordingly apply 19 otherwise treated and handled in plates, with and distribute the paste material in a uniform -two grids to the plate and with the terminal and most eflicient manner.

lugs of-the plates projecting in opposite direc- In the accompanying drawings, Which illustrate tions, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the present appli a preferred embodiment of the invention: l cation draw/ings. Such grid plates may be made Fig. 1 is a -side elevation of the machine as 15 in various types of automatic, high speed, casting seen fromthe right, the left end of the machine machines known in the art and of which I have as shown in this ligure being Considered as the designed several, including those illustrated in front, for purpose of convenience in descriptionmy United States Patents No. 1,747,552, issued It may be noted that the sizing mechanism may February 18, 1930; No. 1,811,143, issued JuneA 23, be designed and used as aunitary construction, 1931; No. 1,843,774, issued February 2, 1932; No. but is hererdisclosed as an attachment for a 1,843,775, issued February 2, 1932; No. 1,843,776, V pasting machine as illustrated in my copending issued February 2,1932; No. 1,843,777, issued Febapplication Ser. No. 41,584, a modified portion of ruary 2, 1932; No. 1,930,815, issued October 17, which is shown inthe instant Fig. 1-

1933; No. 1,959,484, issued May 22, 1934; and No. Fig. 2 iS a Plan View 0f the sizing unit shown in 25 2,028,790, issued January 28, 1936. Fig. 1, being removed from the pasting machine.

After the plates have been cast, and before Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3-3 in they are cut to separate the grids for battery Fig- 2.)

use,vthey are filled with the active material. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4-4 in This may be done in automatic pasting machines Fig. 2- 30 such as disclosed in my copending patent appli- Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on line cations Ser. No. 726,744, led May 2l, 1934, and 5-5 in Fig. 6. Ser. No. 41,584, filed September 21, 1935, both for Fis. 6 is a cross sectional elevation on line Grid pasting machines. l 6 6 in Fig. 3, with fractional portions broken It is found that in the casting of the grid plates away. 35 it is practically impossible to secure uniformity Fig. 7 is a cross sectional elevation on line of thickness as between the several plates, and l-l in Fig. 3I With fIaCiliOnal 11011110118 blOken even throughout the same plate, regardless of aWaY- the care and precision exercised in designing and Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of certain feed rolls.

operating the casting machine. The inequalities and with adjacent parts in section as on line 40 in question result from wear; inaccuracy" and 8-8 in Fig. 9, but on a reduced scale therefrom.

slippage of adjustments; mold distortion under Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on line 9 9 heat and pressure or because of defective in Fig. 10. cooling; uneven applications of plate smoking Fig. 10 is a detail plan view, looking down on (to loosen from mold); differentials inthe molten` Fig. 9, Abut with some parts omitted for purpose 45 metal pressures, and other causes virtually beof illustration. yond control. The variations in plate thickness Fig. 11 is an`enlarged detail side elevation of a are not of substantial proportions, considered portion of one of the presser plates. singly, seldom exceeding fteen one-thousandths The invention contemplates generally the proof one inch. In the aggregate, however, and parvisions for supporting a stack of unsized grid 50 ticularly in plants 'that have a large volume plates, a horizontal passageway leading rearof production, the objection is most significant Wardly from the support, a reciprocating stripper not only from the standpoint of material Wastage, for successively removing the plates from the but also because of the reduction to battery bottom'of the stack and moving them into the eiciency. That uniformity is of importance -is passageway, feed mechanism for progressively 55 moving the plates through the passageway to a point of delivery, and upper and lower rotary cutters for successively trimming the upper and lower surfaces of the grids, all coordinated with various control and adjuster devices to attain the desired results. The rotary cutters are independently driven by separate electric motors, but the stripper and feed devices are operated from a. common shaft, which in the present instance is driven from and by the pasting machine and in synchronism with a receiving conveyor thereof.

In Fig. 1 I have indicated, as at I2, the main frame of the pasting;machine, in which frame is journaled a shaft I3 rotatably supporting sprocket gears I4 over which pass spaced conveyor chains I5, for receiving the plates and conveying them to the paste applying mechanism. The conveyor chains I5 correspondto chains II8 in my application Ser. No. 41,584, and are so spaced that theplates will be carried Ain transverse suspended positions between the chains, with the outwardly `directed lugs I6 (Figs. 2 and 3) resting on the upper runs of the chains.

The sizing machine has a heavy cast frame including side walls I1 and I8 connected by integral cross members I9, and is provided at its rear with integral flanges which are rigidly yso secured to-frame I2 by bolts 2|. A main power shaft 22 is transversely journaled in the frame walls I 1-I8, and receives power from the pasting machine through a chain 23 at the left side of the machine. At the right or opposite side of the machine the shaft 22 has a sprocket pinion 24,

operating through a chain 25 and sprocket gear' 26 to supply power to the conveyor shaft I3. An adjustable idler 21 maybe employed to adjust the tautness of chain 25'.

The shaft 22 also operates a shaft 28 of afeed roll 29 journaled in bearings 35 (Fig. 8) of the frame I1-I8, power being transmitted through clutch collars 3U, 3|, sprocket gear 32, chain 33, and a sprocket pinion 34 fixed on shaft 28. 'I'he clutch collar 3| is rotatable on shaft 22 but has slanted teeth engageable by corresponding teeth of collar 30 which is splined on shaft `22 and is spring pressed against collar 3|, with a result that when shaft 22 is rotating in clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, it will positively drive the gear 32, through the clutch 30-3I. On the other hand should the gear 32 be rotated, by chain 33, it may do so without turning shaft 22 and its other connections as the spring, 36, will permit the clutch collar 30 to move out of driv' ing engagement with collar 3|. It will be noted that shaft 28 Ahas a squared end, for reception of a. hand crank (not shown), and the purpose of the clutch arrangement just described is to permit manual operation of the feed mechanism until the machine is ready to be power driven, it being occasionally necessary to start at very slow feeding speed until adjustments have been made.

The shaft 28 has a spur pinion 31 which drives a pinion l38 on shaft 39 of an upper feed roll 40,

and the pinion 31 also meshes with an idler gear 4| to drive a pinion 42 on a shaft 43 journaled in an elongated hub 44' of side wall .|1. At its inner end the shaft 43 has a heavy disc 45. with an eccentric pin 46 driving a pitman 41. The front end of the pitman (see Figs. 3, 4) is pivoted as at 48 to a block 49 which is rigid with a bar 58 that is slidable in depending lugs 5| and 52 of a reciprocating carriage 53, this carriage member having its side edges slidably retained in inwardly opposed horizontal channels 54. The

channel members are bolted to the underside of a bench plate 55 adjacent to a central longitudinal slot 56 therein, and up into which slot extends an integral lug 51 of the carriage member 53. Upon this lug is secured, by bolts 58, a cross arm 59 to which is riveted a stripper plate 68 which rests and slides directly upon vthe upper surface of the bench 55. As the stripper plate 60 is longitudinally reciprocated it suc'- cessively engages the lowermost grid plates,6|,

of the stack supported on the rear partof the bench, and pushes them edgewise into engagement between the feed rolls 29 and 48 (Figs. 3, 9). 'I'he return or forward movement of the stripper is positively effected through the pitman action the block 49 acting directly on the carriage lug 5|. A

The rearward or feed movement of the stripper plate60 is not positive or unyielding, and isv subject to resistance control, it being necessary to provide means to prevent the destructive or damaging application of power when for any reason a ,grid plate may become stuck or jammed. This is accomplished by the following described mechanism.

The bar 50, being longitudinally slidable in the lugs 5| and 52, can be moved rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, but this movement is subject to the resistance offered by a spring 62 which encircles the bar'and is compressed be- -tween the lug 5| and a tension adjusting nut 63 at the front end of the bar. 'I'he spring 62 is of suilicient strength so that it will cause the carriage 53 to move forwardly under the action of the pitman 41 under normal operating conditions. Should the stripper plates 60, however, meet With abnormal resistance such as might be caused by the sticking or jamming of a grid plate, then the spring 62 will yield sufficiently'to permit the bar 50 to move rearwardly in the bearing lugs 5| and 52. When this occurs, the pivot pin 48 connecting the pitman 41 to the block 49 will also move rearwardly. In order to utilize this movement toI shut off the power to the machine until the obstructing grid plate has been removed, I pivotally secure to an extension of the lug 5|, as at 64, a three-armed lever, one

arm 65 of which engages the pin 48, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. A forwardly extending arm 66 is connected by a spring 61 to the carriage member 53 in a manner tending to press the arm 65 rearwardly against the pin 48. A third arm 68 of the lever extends rearwardly, and has a roller 69 which normally travels immediately over a rod 10 which is pivotally secured as at 1| to a bracket 12 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is rigidly secured to one of the channel members 54. At its rear end the rod 10 has an adjustable screw 13 which rests on a control button 14 of'a switch box 15, and in such a manner that when the rod 10 is depressed it will push the button 14 to open the main circuit to the machine so that the op- -eration thereof will `be stopped.

It will now be seen that when the stripper plate 6I)v meets with abnormal resistance, the pitman pin 48 will' move rearwardly with respect to the carriage 53, and lwhen this occurs the spring 61 will operate to depress the roller 69 placed over the stripper plate mechanism, and may be employed as a shelf to support an extra stack of grid plates toy be subsequently placed in the machine. This plate is pivotally secured as at 'I9 to the end plate 80, and has reinforcing side flanges 82. The shelf plate I8 may be swung open upwardly and forwardly to expose the stripper mechanism, which is done for instance to occasionally grease or oil the stripper plate. At such time also oil may be filled into a cup et which communicates through a duct 8d (Fig. 4) to lubricate the contact surfaces between carriage 53 and bench 55.

The grid stack 6I (Figs. 2 and 3) supported on and to be stripped from the bench 55, is guided between front and rear walls or standards mi and 86 which cooperate with the bench to form a magazine or hopper. The Wall is anchored to lugs at the upper ends of frame walls i1 and I8, by bolts 81 (Figs. 2 and 6), and includes a crossiweb integrally connecting vertical end members which are angularly formed to receive and guide the adjacent grid corners. The rear wall or standard 86, incorporates integral frame members 88 in'which the shaft 39 and other working parts are mounted. The frame unit 86, 38 is rigidly mounted on the main frame by bolts 89.

Adjustably secured, as by stud bolts 9d to the front or inner side of the standard 36, is a guide plate 9i, the lower edge of which is spaced above the bench 55, and spaced below the intermediate lower edge of wall 86 (Figs. 3, 4, and ll) to restrain the plate stack against rearward movement while permitting only the lowermost grid plate to be discharged rearwardly from under the stack under the action of the stripper plate. The size of the discharge opening must be subject to adjustment, however, so as to accommodate grid types of different size thicknesses, as some grid plates are heavier and thicker than others depending upon the uses to which they are to be put. For this reason the plate 9| is vertically adjustable although only two adjustments are ordinarily required. 'To secure these adjustments the bolts 9!! extend through slots 92, in plate BI (Fig. 6), and the plate proper is provided with laterally projecting lug portions 93 having freedom for limited vertical movement in slots 9d of the standard 86. Thus by loosening the bolts Sil the guide plate 9i can be quickly and easily adjusted to permit the passage under the plate only of grids having a maximum size thickness. In consequence the plate 9| not only insures a one by one plate discharge, but also prevents passage into the cutter mechanism oi' an oversize plate which might accidentally get into the stack and for which the trimmers are not adjusted.

As the grid'plates are stripped from the stack they are moved into contact between the feed rolls 29 and 40 which, as previously noted, are both power driven at a constant speed to move the plates into contact with the trimmers. In order that ythe clamping action between the rollers may be resilient,'while also uniform throughout their lengths, I mount the shaft 39 at the ends of roller 40, in bearing blocks which are vertically guided in the ends of frame 88. These blocks are connected with frame 88' (Figs. 1 and 3) by bolts 96, which pass through the frame, and springs 91 which act against adjuster huts 98 to depressthe roller. The downward movement of the roller is limited by a nut 9@ stopping against the frame, so that the spacing between rollers 29 and it may be regulated for various sizes of plates and to adjust the clamping pressure thereon during the feed action.

As the grid plates are moved rearwardly under the action of the feed rolls 29 and 40 they are received on a` horizontal, primary cutting table Iil which consists of a heavy transverse plate secured at its ends by bolts IUI to inwardly projecting lugs |92 of the side walls il and I8. The forward edge of the tab-le |60 is beveled to better receive the grid plates from. the roller 29, and the upper vface of the table is machined very smooth and at so that the grid plates may more readily` pass thereover.

As the plates approach the rear edge of the table IDB their upper faces come in contact with a rotary cutter m3 which extends transversely of the machine and has an annular series of spaced cutter teeth, which teeth extend in spiral formation throughout the length of the cutter. The cutter is rotated at a high rate of speed, and has for its purpose to shave or mill ofi as much of the grid plate material as may project beyond the desired upper surface of the plate. In order to insure proper pressure on the grid plates as they travel over the table IIlIl, and to insure proper retention ofl the plates as they come into engagement with the cutter |03, I provide a. transverse series of shoe units designated generally by the numeral IM. Each of these units comprises a lower horizontal plate member |05, an arcuate rear wall |86 serving as a guard about a portion of the cutter |03, and a pair of vertical ilanges or webs |01 by which the vshoe units are carried and held in operative position. A shaft |08 extends through the Webs |01 to each unit, and about this shaft' is secured a collar |09 formed integrally with the lower end of a bar III). The bars I Ill are slidably mounted at their upper ends in a cross piece III secured as at II2 to the frame 88. Adjustable nuts II3- limit the downward movement of the bars I I0, and springs i I It are compressed between the bar II I and nuts pressure'than the other side,fand there will he4 sumcient freedom to permit the plate' pressure to adjust Yitself transversely. It will be noted that each of the shoe plates m5 is provided with a forwardly extending integral nger H6, and that the feed roll is provided with a longitudinally spaced series of annular recesses II'| to accommodate the fingers H6. It may also be noted with particular reference to Fig. 9, that the front ends of the lingers IEIB are bent upwardly. This arrangement of feed roll and receiving fingers insures the proper reception of the grid'plates into the feed passageway, and prevents the oncoming grid plates from lin any way stopping against obstructions such as the forward edges of the shoe plates.

To insure the proper vretention of the guide shoes longitudinally of the machine while 'yet Ytions ||9 will permit the necessary exing moveproperly and completely finished by the cutter'v |03, they pass into engagement with a secondary trimming table |22 which cooperates with a. set of retention shoes |23 and a secondary' cutter |24. 'I'hese three members function in the same manner as the corresponding members |00, |04, and

|03, respectively, but are reversedin positions so that the grid plates will be guided along the under side of the table |22, and have their lower surfaces fnished by the rotary cutter |24.

The table |22 is bolted down on the frame |1|8 by bolts |25, and is somewhat longer from front to back than the table |00. 'I'he cutter |24 is identical with cutter |03 except that it rotates in the opposite direction, and consequently has its cutting teeth oppositely directed. The shoes |23, as already noted, are substantially identical with the units |04, and are mounted for flexible and adjustable contact with respect to the under sides of the grid plates which are now pressed upwardly against the table |22. 'Ihe shoe units |23 do not have elements corresponding to ngers H6, but are upwardly sustainedby rods |26, nuts |21, cross piece |28, springs |29, stop nuts |30, and cross pins |3|, which elements correspond to the members ||0, H3, H4, ||5, and |08 of the supporting devices for the shoe units |04. In like manner also the secondary shoe units are connected by links |32 to a cross bar |33 corresponding 'respectively to the links 9 and cross bar or shaft |2| previously described.

As the grid plates pass beyond the cutter |24 they are received upon a plate |34, which pro- Jects beyond the rear end of the table |22, and is f pivotally mounted as at |35 to a pair of standards |36 of a cross bar |31, which in turn is'secured to the side Walls |1 and l0 by bolts |38. The forward portion of the receiving plate |34 is yieldably supported by a bar |39, the upper end of which is pivoted thereto asat |40. The bar extends down from the plate, and near its lower end is provided with a collar. |4| that rests in a lug extension |42 of the cross beam |31. Lock nuts 43 serve to adjust the collar 4| with respect to the bar |39. 'Ihe bar |39 is further provided with a pair of lock nuts |44 between which and the collar |4| is interposed a compression spring |45 which tends to lift the rod |39 and the shelf |34 upwardly with respect to the collar |4|, the movement in question only being restricted by the lock nuts |43.- It will thus be seen that by adjusting the nuts |43 and |44 the elevation of the shelf |34 may be regulated while still permitting the forward portion of the shelf to yield slightly downwardly as occasion may demand.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 9 and 11, where I have illustrated with somewhat distorted proportions the contour of the shoe plates |05 in a vertical, longitudinal plane. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a clearance space |46 through an intermediate portion of the shoe plate so as to reduce as much as possible the frictional contact with the grid plates. It will also be noted that the forward portion of the shoe plate is stepped providing elongated shoulders |41 and |48, both of which have an important function in the proper feed of the grids to the rotary cutter |03. Thus the toe end |48 of the shoe plate has its under surface disposed at a level slightly below the under surface of the shoulder |41, and in turn the shoulder face |41. is slightly lower than" the plate surface immediately ahead of it. This arrangement causes the shoulder |41 to ride horizontally against the grid plates as the latter move thereunder, and tend to hold the plates in firm, horizontal contact with the table |00. As the grid plates approach the cutter, however, it is necessary to press them still more firmly in contact with the table so as to properly resist the cutter and properly maintain the grid plates in trimming position. 'Ihe offsets in the shoe plates are of course connected by slanted surfaces so that the grid plates will not catch or be retarded. In actual practice the clearance above the table surface and the toe |48 is about or less than ve `one-thousandths (/1000) of an inch less than the clearance between the table surface and the shoulder |41. 'I'his diifer- 1 `ence, while not substantial in extent, is found to` make considerable difference in the `successful operation of the machine.

'I'he rotary cutters |03 and |24 are motor driven independently of each other and independently of the power means for operating stripper and feed mechanisms. Except for the facts, that the cutters are rotated and cut in opposite directions, and that one is disposed above and the other below the grid plate passageway, the mechanisms for mounting, adjusting, and

'driving the cutters are Substantially identical,

and will now be described.

The rotary cutter |24 (or |03) is provided at one end with a tapered shank |49, terminating in a. threaded stud |50 (Fig. 7). 'I'he shank |49 is self-centering in a tapered spindle |5| and is securely held therein when the cutter is turned to screw the stud |50 into a socket |52 at the inner end of the spindle. To facilitate turning the cutter, its end, opposite from the shank, is provided with holes |53 for application of a spanner wrench (not shown).

The spindle |5| is journaled in a bearing head |54, and is driven directly from a motor .|55 carried by the head |54. The head and motor are loosened when the cutter supporting block |56 is to be vertically adjusted.

Below the block |56 the side wall |8 is provided with an outwardly projecting integral lug |6| in which is journaled an upright shaft |62, threaded at its upper end in an integral dependinglug |63 of the block |56. The shaft |62 `is journaled in lug (I6|) bearings |64 in such a manner as to permit rotation of the shaft but restrain it from vertical movement, a flange |65 of the shaft riding on the upper bearing. At its lower extremity the shaft |62 has a hand wheel |66 by which the shaftis rotated and this action in turn operates to vertically adjust the block |56. f

. adjuster wheel |66.

While the operation of the machine will no doubt be understood from the foregoing description thereof, a rsum may be made as follows:

A stack of grid plates is first placed upon the bench 55 between vthe hopper forming walls 85 and 86, the plates being so arranged that all of the terminal lugs I6 will be disposed in a vertical row in the forward lateral corners of the hopper, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The plate 9| is then adjusted vertically in accordance with the type of grid plate to be sized so that only one plate at a time can pass through the gap between the lower edge of the plate 9| and the bench 55.

Other adjustments, including adjustments of thev rotary cutters |03 and, |24 are then made as accurately as possible and before the machine is started. It may be noted that there is sufficient clearance within the guard |04 to permit necessary vertical adjustments of the cutter |03, and similarly the cutter |24 extends through an opening |69 (Fig. 3) to permit corresponding adjustments to the cutter |24. It may here also be noted that the rotary cutters |03 and |24 are rotatably supported at only one end as by the Shanks |49, which arrangement facilitates the removal, replacement, resharpening, or repair of the cutters without in any way dismantling the machine or necessitating the removal of the bearings such as would occur if there were bearing supports at both ends of the cutters.

As an initial step .in the operation of the machine, the cutter motors |55 are first started so that the cutters will be rotated and at a high rate of speed as soon as the first grid moves through the passageway. 'I'he first grids are initially moved into treatment position by applying a hand crank to the squared end'of shaft 28, and as this shaft is slowly rotated the stripper plate 00 will be actuated to engage the lowermost grid plate and move it rearwardly into contact with the feed rolls 29 and 40 which are moved in synchronism with the pitman driving shaft 43. The shaft 43, whether turned by hand or driven in normal machinevoperation, is timed with respect to the feed speed of the rollers 20 tively slow when first engaging the lowerinosty grid plate. This movement Vwill then be accelerated until the pin 46 passes over the axis of shaft ,43, at which time the movement of the grid plate will bel retarded. These differentials in travel speed by the stripper plate are utilized to advantage in this machine.` Thus it is highly desirable to begin the stripping action under rela" tively low speed, and it is equally desirable to slow up the feed speed as the grid plates approach the feed rolls. The feed `rolls 29 and 40rotate at a constant rate of speed, and consequently feed the plates rearwardly into the cutter mechanisms at a constant rate of speed. It would be dimcult, however, to strip the plates from under the stack at a constant rate of speed without leaving gapsbetween the front and rear edges of adjacent grid plates, as they pass through the feed passageway, and such gaps would be objectionable because they would interrupt and possibly disrupt the normal feeding action to and through the cutters, at which time the plates depend for their movement on the direct ycontact and pressure applied from the succeeding grid plates. y

With the present arrangement,however, as one grid plate travels through between the feed rolls,

the stripper plate has an opportunity to Areturn for another grid plate, and as this second'grid plate approaches the preceding plate the movement is retarded, but not until the two plates are in edge to edge contact with each other. This edge toedge contact isl illustrated at the upper end of Fig. 10, while at the lower end and in Fig. 1l is shown how the second plate is just about to closeA the gap between itself and the first plate.

After a few plates have thus beenV started through the machine, and all necessary adjustments have been made, the machine is oper= ated by motor power so as to be driven continuously and at a considerably higher rate of speed than is ordinarily donevwhen operated by hand.

As the grid plates come into engagement with the feed rolls, which feed rolls incidentally may be knurled or slightlyroughened toy effect a better gripping action, they are moved progressively and cutter I 03, which trims olf superfluous metal from' the upper surface of theplate as the plate .con-

tinues to move rearwardly. Suitable means such as a hood connected witha suction tube may be employed to carry off the residue material removed by the trimming cutters. Such removalv means, however, forms no part of the present invention and is therefore not -shown in the drawings. v y

As the plates receivetreatment from the cutter |03 they continue to rmove `rearwardly throughv the passageway between fthe table'plate |22 and the upwardly pressed'shoes |23 until they reach the rotary cutter |24 which operates to remove the excess material from. thelower surfaces of the grid plates, and thus operates to reduce all of the plates to a uniform size thickness. As the plates move beyond the cutter |24 they pass over the shelf |34 from whence they may be removed in any suitablefmanner.r 4In the present instance this shelf is` so arrangedwith respect to the conveyor chains I5 of the pasting machinethat the plates moving beyond the` shelf |34 will drop down between the conveyork chains i5 until the terminal lugs I6 rest upon the chains. The sized plates then continue to move into the pasting machine in vertical or depending positions.

Practically the only opportunity for jamming or clogging of the machine is in the stripping operation, and suchvaction can only occur when la distorted'or oversized plate has accidentally orotherwise gotten into the stack of plates 1n the hopper, and when suchfacontingency occurs, no breakage or appreciable damage will result because as 'soon as abnormal resistance is offered to the stripper plate 60 the tripping mechanism 64-14 will operate to stop the entire feed mecha.- nism, until the objectionable grid plate has been removed and the machine is otherwise in condition to again function.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a plate passageway defined in part by a pair of cooperating power driven feed rolls arranged to receive the grid plates therebetween and advance them through the passageway, and a pair of rotary trimmers disposed at opposite sides of the' passageway and adapted to extend transversely across and act on opposite surfaces of the grid plates as they advance under the feed roll action.

2. A grid plate sizing machine having a pas- VYsageway for the psage of grid plates edgewise therethrough, power driven plate `engaging roller means for advancing the grid plates progressively through the psageway in edge to edge contact with each other, and a pair of rotary cutters disposed adjacent opposite sides of the passageway and for cutting engagement with the opposite faces ofthe plates while such plates are advancing under the action of said roller means, said cutters being disposed one in advance of the other so as to successively engage the plates.

` 3. A grid plate sizing machine having a passageway for the passage of grid plates edgewise therethrough, means for advancing the grid plates progressively through the passageway, and a pair of rotary cutters disposed adjacent opposite sides of the passageway and for cutting engagement lwith the opposite faces of the advancing plates,

said cutters being disposed one in advance of the other so as to successively engage the plates, and a cooperating support' member disposed opposite the passageway from each cutter.

4. A gridv plate sizing machine having a passageway for the e of grid plates edgW1e therethrough, said eway being defined in part by a primary plate receiving support and a cooperating primary cutter between which the plates initially pass, and a secondary plate receiving support and a secondary cutter for receiving and acting on plates passing from the primary support and cutters, the positions of the said primary and secondarycutters being reversed in such a manner that the two cutters will act on opposite faces of the plates. n

5. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway dened in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, a pair of feed rolls disposed in advance of the support and cutter to actuate the plates thereto, a series of shoes disposed between one of said feed rolls and vthe ,cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such plates are moved thereacross and into engagement with the cutter, and means for operating the cutter and feed rolls.

6. A grid plate sizingA machinefcomprising a frame having a passageway defined in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a of the support and cutter to actuate the plates thereto, a series of shoes disposed between one of said feed rolls andthe cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such face contours of plates passing in contact therewith.

7. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway defined in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, a pair of feed rolls disposed in advance of the support and cutter to actuate the plates thereto, a series of shoes disposed between one of said feedrolls and the cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such plates are moved thereacross and into engagement with the cutter, and means for mounting said shoes so that they may yield, transversely and longitudinally, to conform to the adjacent face contours of plates passing in contact therewith, and each of said shoes having a raised portion along its delivery edge adapted to apply slightly greater pressure to the plate than at other points.

8. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway defined in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, a pair of feed rolls disposed in advance of the support and cutter to actuate the plates thereto, a series of shoes disposed between one of said feed rolls and the cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such plates are moved thereacross and into engagement with the cutter, one of said feed rolls having longitudinally spaced annular grooves, and said shoes being provided with extensions disposed in said grooves.

9. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a horizontal bench for supporting a stack of grid plates, a pair of feed rolls, a reciprocating device operative adjacent to the surface of the bench for stripping the lowermost grid plate from the stack and moving into engagement between the feed rolls, a primary trimming table for receiving the grid plates from the feed rolls, a primary rotary cutter cooperating with the table for trimming one face of the grid plates passing thereover, a .secondary,table, inverted with respect to4 the primary table, for receiving the grid plates therefrom, and a secondary rotary cutter coop- .erating with the secondary cutter and for trimming the other faces of the grid plates.

10. A grid plate trimming machine comprising a support for a stack of plates, a stripper for intermittently removing plates from said support, a' pair of feed rolls for receiving the removed plates and advancingthem in edge to edge contact and at a uniform rate of speed over a table,

a rotary cutting roller extending across the table and of sumcient length to transversely engage theentire surface of the plates passing thereunder, and means disposed between the feed rolls and cutting roller for engaging the plates passing therebetween and pressing them into close contact with the table as they pass into engagement with the cutting roller.

11. A grid plate trimming machine comprisin g a frame having a'passa'geway for the edgewise movement therethrough of grid plates, means for moving the plates progressively through the passageway, and a pair of rotary cutters disposed at opposite sides of the passageway to respectively trim the opposite faces of the plates, said cutters being arranged one in advance of the other, with trim the opposite faces of the plates, said cutters being arranged one in advance of the other, with respect to the length of the passageway, stationary support members arranged opposite the respective cutters to guide the plates into engagement with the cutters, and resilient means engaging the plates and urging them into close face contact with the supports at points immediately in advance of the cutters.

13. A grid plate trimming machine having a longitudinal passageway for the horizontal edgewise movement of plates therethrough, a rotary cutter extending across and for trimming the upper surface of the plates as they progress through the passageway, a stationary support member disposed over the passageway to receive the grids from said cutter, and a second rotary cutter, disposed under and cooperating with said support member, to trim off the under surface of the plates. f

14. A grid plate trimming machine having a longitudinal passageway for the horizontal edgewise movement of plates therethrough, a rotary cutter extending across and for trimming the upper surface of the plates as they progress through the passageway, a stationary support member disposed over the passageway to receive the grids from said cutter, a secondary cutter, arranged transversely under the support member, to trim the under surface of the plates, and resilient means engageable with the plates to press them upwardly into close surface contact with said support member.

15. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway defined in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged rotary cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, means for advancing the grid plates through the passageway and into engagement with the rotary cutter, and a yieldable shoe disposed in advance of the cutter and for pressing the plates into close face contact with the support, said shoe having its plate contacting surface recessed between its front and rear extremities.

16. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway dened in part .by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged rotary cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, means for advancing the grid plates through the passageway and into engagement with the rotary cutter, and a yieldable shoe disposed in advance of the cutter and for pressing the plates into close face contact with the support, said shoe having its edge portion adjacent the cutter projected beyond its normal plate contacting surface so as to produce additional pressure on the plates at a point immediately before they engagev the cutter.

17. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway dened in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged rotary cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, means for advancing the ,grid plates through the passageway and into engagement with the rotary cutter, and a yieldable shoe disposed in advance of the cutter and for pressing the plates into close facecontact with the support,'said shoe having a member extending as a guard about a portion of the rotary cutter.

18. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway dened in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged cutter cooperating with the support t0 act on grid plates passing therebetween, -a series of shoes disposed transversely and` immediately in advance of the cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such plates move thereover and into engagement with the cutter, a bearing member extending transversely of the machine adjacent the shoes, links connecting the respective shoes to such bearing member to prevent movement of the shoes longitudinally of the passageway, and means, independent of said links and bearing member, for exerting. yieldable pressure on the respective shoes.

19. A grid plate sizing machine comprising a frame having a passageway defined in part by a transversely disposed stationary support and a transversely arranged cutter cooperating with the support to act on grid plates passing therebetween, a series of shoes disposed transversely and immediately in advance of the cutter for pressing the plates into engagement with the support as such plates move thereover and into engagement with the cutter, link devices attached to the shoes to hold them against movement longitudinally of the passageway while permitting fluctuating movements with respect to the support, and means limiting the proximity of the shoes to the support.

ARTHUR D. LUND. 

